My favorite car I have ever owned was my 1986 Cressida 5M-GE base. I loved the soft, plush seats and all of the amenities of a luxury sedan. It was still super sporty with that sleeper 4 door Supra capability.
I have never seen this interior before, which kind of surprises me. This is from an era when I did quite a lot of looking for and at just this sort of thing. Very cool. Now I want one.
My wife had an '85 Cressida Wagon. I had an '86 Cressida Sedan. Those were GREAT cars, if you had them serviced properly. In many ways, they were inspired by the early Toyota Crown and Supra, and inspired the Lexus line and the Avalon. Still, there were issues with the inline 6 engine such as leaky cam towers and leaky rear seals. But the ride was great, handling was solid, and the interior was awesome. Fuel economy was between 17.and 24 MPG, depending upon where you drove. I averaged 19 city, 23 highway. We traded them for more efficient vehicles that didn't ruin the driveway or garage from oil leaks. Now we drive Priuses. All the Toyotas we have had since the Cressidas have been leak-free.
My sister and brother-in-law had an earlier Cresida. Amazing car, so much quieter and more economical than American cars at the time. That was when the Japanese began eating Detroit's lunch.
You'd all better hope you didn't ruin America's car industry by buying Japanese and European cars. If you don't want to live and drive American, why don't you move to Japan or Europe. And don't give me that Murica parody slang, either.
@@billyfoster3223 if American car makers actually cared if we bought them or not they wouldn’t make shitty products that forced us into the arms of Toyota and Volkswagen
I own a 1975 Toyota Crown, model Ms 85. I have owned this car for over forty years now, I bought it with only 46 thousand km on the clock. It has the 4M straight six cylinder engine, three spd auto transmission, rear wheel drive. The interior is similar to the Cressida but it does not have a lot of the electronic components. It does have electricity operated windows, remote door locks and boot lock. It will cruise at 140 plus kmh all day. It is an absolute pleasure to drive this car. I thought that you might be interested to hear about it as this was bought new in New Zealand and I am the second owner. It has only traveled 160 thousand km to date.
I owned a 1987 model for several years, purchased from a relative. For reasons I never knew, the engine had eaten its rings, and I had to have the motor re-built at the dealership for about $4,500 in mid- 1990's dollars. After that, it was a perfectly reliable car, and I loved the digital dash and features. After getting married and having 3 children in 5 years, I had to sell it as there was no way to handle 3 car seats and two adults in it. (I found a mint 1989 Olds Custom Cruiser, as a matter of fact.) I'd love to have that car today, and still look for a used one myself from time to time. Another great video!
Oh, be still my beating heart! We owned from new a 1986 Toyota Cressida wagon, another car I greatly regret ever selling. It was the ideal-sized harpmobile for my wife to transport her concert grand instrument to/from gigs in LA. You're correct to say that, mechanically, it was 4-door Supra. Loved the fact that it was rear wheel drive, and that 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive was really slick. I don't remember the 4-wheel independent suspension as being particularly "mushy," but then again one doesn't exactly want a track-ready ride when hauling around a harp which cost more than the car, plush though it was.
I always liked the rectangular, conservative styling of the Cressida... and it is rear wheel drive! Never had any idea what the interior looked like until now.
Additional quirk. Seen at 9:37, to the right of steering wheel, below the radio/climate control pod, there is a small black screen next to the center stack climate controls, above the radio.. That housed an early computer. It could be set to read the time, month & day, instant fuel economy average, fuel range, stop watch timer, engine oil life, and of all things, a birthday date reminder alarm. Enjoyed the video! Thank you. 1985 Cressida. 69,000 miles. 💜🙂
Interesting! My dad had an ‘85 but the screen you speak of was only a clock. His car had the analog dash though, making me wonder if the other functions you mention were available if you upgraded to the digital dash shown in this part of the video.
I worked at an airport parking lot in Boston from 1984 to 1986, as well as a "side gig" moving cars around for Avis during that time. Drove lots of Toyota Cressida's....and wow you are right! Their interiors were very close to many of the Big 3...and easily as comfy as any Cadillac. I always enjoyed driving them!
I used to work on those back in the day. They were pleasant to drive and the owners generally loved them. And once they reached a certain age, they were dirt cheap to buy and that Supra engine was fun to wind up...
This video is dead-on! My mother bought an '85 loaded with leather interior. Cost $15,600 + TTL. A comparable Cadillac was thousands more and didn't have the same amenities (or reliability). Her car was trouble free for 17 years/190,000 miles until a run-away truck totaled the car. My only gripe were the automatic seatbelts, but it was a minor compromise for what was an excellent car with a classic boulevard ride.
The truly amazing thing is that even in a car this old today, most of the electronics will still work! The Japanese were masters of this stuff and I don't think we have still caught up. Between this and the Honda line, they really made our stuff look like junk, from function to execution.
Talk about an Underdog! Thanks for talking about the Cressida. When I was a little kid, I was happy when my parents' friends came over for a visit. They had a Cressida and I would ask their permission to sit inside. I would pretend I was driving and I would admire the car. Good times.
A cousin of mine back in the late 90s had a champagne-colored Cressida. I drove it once to high school and drove it with a buddy of mine on Military Drive in San Antonio when cruising was the thing!
My sister had the fancy wagon versions !! My sister originally had a Honda CRX my parents bought her in high school ( 1990) but my sister went to Australia after high school and when she returned she needed a car and my parents had a friend with an old Toyota Cressida wagon!!! It actually was a good car!!! My sister drove it for a couple years and I was old by this point but was a great old car!!
Same in the Australian market. It was the Japanese cars that spelt the end of the locally produced Ford, GM and Chrysler products. They just did what they promised on the box. And standard equipment was optional on everything else. To this day, Toyotas hold their resale value more strongly than just about anything else.
The Cressida has to have one of the best, if not the best, quality interior of a US Market Japanese car of this time period. I was always surprised that these cars were not popular here on the West Coast. The wagons in particular were very scarce when new. Nissan tried a similar idea with the original Maxima, but they just did not come off as well. Lastly, the ribbed, tufted velour -- ah, the 80s.
It wasn't just the quality of the cars that drove many Americans towards Toyota- these interiors certainly helped, feeling comfy despite being a smaller package. In terms of pricing, these Cressidas were relatively expensive- certainly on par with a top-model from a US premium division. I have an April '86 NADA used car price guide, which lists original sticker on an 85 Cressida as $15,690 (or about $45k today). Compare that to the new front drive '85 Electra Park Avenue, which has a new sticker price of $15,572. I think this honestly was there to compete as a very competent premium family car that offered good fuel economy. I'd like to think that cars such as the Cressida certainly contributed to the great cars Lexus would eventually produce a few years later, both in fit/finish but also in great adherence to good, high technology components that were durable and reliable. I think it's a bit of a shame that comfy, cushy interior seating became such a characteristic of American vehicles, and as such, as everyone raced to emulate the Japanese and Germans, comfort went out the window. Today, safety regulations mandating seat and dash design have seemingly contributed to pretty much entirely eliminating the idea of having a super cushy interior. Same goes for the great visibility and airiness of these pre-rollover cabin designs. That said, those seat belts were HORRIBLE! I do not miss those! The crotch cooler though...those were nice. Thanks for another interior video, Adam. I've been really enjoying these deep dives into automotive interiors. Some very neat ideas that were going around in this era, and often completely overlooked compared to exterior styling and mechanical engineering. I'd love it if you could get us some more interviews with interior designers, both old and even new, to get their thinking on how interiors have ended up the way they are.
My top considerations for a vehicle outside of price are the comfort/appearance of the interior, performance in winter and reliability. My current vehicle is a Ford Flex with AWD. After 160k miles I'm looking for an eventually replacement. I'm at a loss now....no other vehicle on the market is comparable.
Most definitely! My Uncle's early 80's Cressida whet my Dad's appetite for Toyota. Dad and Mom later purchased both an Avalon and a Tundra crew cab, loved both vehicles😁
The first decent car I've owned was a 1989 audi coupe quattro and it wasn't cushy, but it was very comfortable and the handling and performance was better than any American product of the same year.
This has always been my dream car since I was a teen in school and a friends dad who was a DR had a new 1985 Crissida and his wife had a new Supra Still to this day I would LOVE to own a low mileage Crissida or 1986 Accord..loved the 80's luxury imports for the time! As a kid we had a 1980 Camaro and I remember while being a fast car with a 5.0 305 4bbl engine, it was still a POS with interior quality being horrible and the reliability sucked as well!
I had a friend who was a used car buyer for a Toyota dealership back in these days. He loved to use the 1985-1986 Cressida as his demo. I couldn’t really appreciate these back then but I was slowly being won over Asian vehicles. I have driven nothing else since 1987.
I remember these pretty well. They weren't all that big, I think a modern Camry is bigger than the Cressida was but these were really well made and nicely equipped. With that straight six from the Supra they were also deceptively quick.
As a kid I knew this was a good car, but I was 14-15 in 1986, and my tastes were totally different. As a 51yr old, this car draws me close for totally different reasons, including its solid build, great engine, smooth ride (Im assuming with a Cressida) and a higher level of quietness. In 1986, at this level, the domestics offered nothing I was interested in, other than a Mercury Sable, Cougar, and Ford Thunderbird. I do like the Chevrolet Caprice, too.
I had one of these! Well, the next generation, to be precise, a 1990. The interiors were toned down slightly by then, but still very much that same traditional deluxe mood. I just remember it being one of the smoothest, most stately cars I had ever driven, and I still have fond memories of it. The accelerator pedal was calibrated in such a way that normal pressure would give very relaxed, buttery acceleration, so it could fool you into thinking it was slow. But if you toed it, the thing came alive and the inline-6 sounded like silk fabric being ripped. Super, super satisfying. I think the muddled perception of this car's purpose had to do more with the weird stratification of the American market rather than any confusion of intent on Toyota's part. To me, this is the classic example of the Japanese or European "executive saloon." It's purposeful, conservative, luxurious but not ostentatious, mature but not elderly, quick but not sporty, and slightly coddling. It's car as balancing act, meant for people, not demographic segments. I think Toyota's replacement for this, the Avalon, kind of spoiled the vibe by going in a more geriatric direction, with bulbous styling and a large-print interior, seemingly aimed at senior-level career men and retired women. Wasn't it even offered with a column shifter??
I remember this time and this car well. This is what changed the game for Toyota. For people who could actually afford luxury cars at the time, they were seen as being smaller, slower, less safe, less comfortable and with less sound deadening. They were overall way less luxurious. Along came the Cressida and it could not be argued with by anyone. It was very underrated and still is today. Without that car there wouldn't be a Lexus.
Thanks for showcasing the Cressida. I had a tan 96. I agree with your take on this car. I too would love to find one. I never see these on the street anymore. It was a great car.
I remember the Cressida and Maxima were competitors. But by 1985 the Maxima had gone front wheel drive. I considered the Cressida as the better of the two. My sister had a 1985 Cressida. It was nice.
Very enjoyable video on the Cressida Adam😁 I had an older Aunt and Uncle, as a kid, who had a Cressida. Their other car, at that time, was a '78 AMC Concord D/L, and they had traded in a '69 Rambler American on the Cressida. My Uncle liked luxury compacts that were comfortable but good on gas ⛽ I believe their Cressida was an '81. They still had this car in 1995😁
"Carnut" since'51 and my first car I paid for was a '68 Cougar "Dan Gurney Special" for $2828, the interior was unique as it had thick bucket seats and fake woven vinyl. Hope you run into one and show this one of a kind interior.
Great video! While I was in high school in the early 1990's, a friend of mine got her mother's mid-1980s Cressida for her 16th bday. Hers had analog gauges, and button tufted leather seats. What really stood out to me was the programmable calendar thing on the dash.
I worked at the dealer in the 90's and had to work on them. People loved them, the engine and ride was super smooth, and they had decent power. A big plus was I made a lot of money buying and selling them as when someone wanted one they really wanted one. Now the down side-The engine blew oil and cam seals all over the place and burned it with it's loose fitting pistons, the rear suspension ate the inside of the tires up quickly unless you went to extremes to add enough positive camber to prevent it (rear spring spacers were the best as they were too soft and rode about 1 1/2 inch too low. Plus, he AC sucked because it constantly leaked just about everywhere. I hated working on them but made lots of money off of them.
We had this car with a 5-speed manual. A couple things to note: 1. The “pod” to the right also had climate controls if I recall correctly. 2. The car could be optioned with an adjustable suspension.
Years ago, Toyota had a museum near LA which had some Cressidas of various decades which were all in showroom condition. I was surprised at the loud colors and "poofy" velour seats. Despite being Toyotas, you just don't see these cars on the road anymore although there may be some hiding in garages somewhere.
The poofy velour seats were an American thing. The South Africa models had full leather….and no buttoned cushions . Velour was an option , but again, no poofy , cushions. Very conservative ….😀
Other than the GM 6th Gen (86-91) lesabre and it’s stable mates were very reliable, great looking and fuel efficient, of which I bought a number of examples for my wife to drive, I personally drove Datsuns and Toyotas and still do to this day.
I remember those cars! They did look nice. Interiors were plushy 😂. We had a 1985 Honda Accord SEi...and it was loaded. Leather, sunroof & 5-speed! Great car! Mechanically it lasted forever. 😃✌🏼
I have a 1988 Mazda 929. Similar approach to the Cressida. 929 has a3.0l v6, rear wheel drive, leather, heated power mirrors, really luxurious for the time.
My dad has 85 Cressida with white exterior and red interior and 5 speed manual, but because it's from Arabia it doesn't have those bumbers and automatic seatbelts, and the seat patterns are little bit different. But the car and the seats are still very soft and comfy.
@@CRAPO2011 Yes, it originally had the 5M-E engine (6 cylinder), but some owner before us change it to the 5M-GE engine (also 6 cylinder) Also I didn't mention in the original comment that our Cressida is hardtop, so it has frameless window, and it has different hood ornament than shown in the video.
these cressidas birthed my love for eurasian sedans i sold my 2011 chevy malibu last year because i was tired of it and ended up with an 04 Avalon and $6000 in my pocket no regrets ive always loved good factory stereos i remember being blown away by the Cressidas stereo controls the first time i looked inside through the drivers side window of a Cressida in a parking lot somewhere it reminded me of nice piece of Japanese home stereo equipment
Adam, Now you have had one Honda and one Toyota on the channel. The Cressida and in particular, the Cressida wagon, were very understated. Does anyone remember Michael Palin setting off across Saudi Arabia in "Around The World in 80 Days" in a white Cressida sedan with a manual? 🤔
These were pretty popular in Australia too. I had several friends and neighbours who owned them. The cam covers were a common sore point - every couple of years they needed new gaskets. They fixed this with the ‘88-89 update when the 3L engine was introduced here. IMO that “rounded corners” update softened it too much, and the leather interior was not as nice as the velour in the “square box” ones. Our local competitors - Ford & GM Holden had already woken up, and from the early 80s the top line Commodore SLE and later Calais models had very plush interiors, but Ford went all out with acres of velour in the 84-88 XF Fairmont Ghia, which also had the best digital cluster of the era (full instruments too) as well as Japanese style switch pods and electric moving vents, thanks to their Mazda partnership. They are highly sought after today too. The local advertising called it a “cress seed ahh” The earlier 80s Cressidas sold here had some very basic trim specs available (especially in the wagon) but you could clearly see Toyota’s direction towards Lexus as these were slowly dropped through the 80s, leaving only the highest spec trims available, ready to roll into the LS400 & ES300 that were also quite popular here too. Several of those Cressidas I knew as a teenager were replaced in the 90s by those 2 Lexus models.
Early RWD Maxima's were similarly brougham-y. I remember my dad had a loaner (used car) while his Ranger was getting serviced. It was blue, with blue velour interior, an also had the button-tufted look. It had a moonroof, awesome stereo, and seemingly dozens and dozens of buttons laid out on the dash. It might have had a digital dash, not sure.
Your opinion about my car makes me very happy. I've also got a 93 LS400 which unfortunately i need to sell and honestly, i was so disappointed when i bought the Lexus. The Cressida had a much better looking interior and equipment, even a range computer that even reminded you of birthdays, or the technics radio with a graphic 12 lever equalizer that you could control from the gauge cluster. Can't wait to get it from the paint shop. It's black and green
One of my best friends got a used 85 Cressida after his 77 240 Z just about folded in half from excessive rust. He liked it and said in a straight line it was faster than his old Z car.
At that time, I was not able to afford a Cressida as I was very young, I made the mistake of owning Buicks, Mercury’s, fords & Chevy’s, all of which broke down continually. Many years later, I discovered Toyota and Lexus, and have never ever had a reliability issue.
I have always liked the Cressida, even the earlier eighties pre-facelift version of this car; when I saw the ‘65 facelift the car just got even better; it had the impression of being a family car but somewhat better than average.
Hi Adam, I love your channel and enjoy most every video you make. I must make a correction to your information. I have a 1987 MX73 and it has the hood ornament. You said it was 1986 only. Great video though! Thanks!
Yep Adam, very popular in OZ and a Gr8 Family Sedan that was Very Quiet and Drove like a Dream.....Fuel Efficient, as well, compared to a lot of the U.S. & Australian Cars. Cheers fm Damo😊🙌
Great video! I like seeing videos about non American cars. Keep the majority of the videos american but through in some foreign cars every once in a while.
I remember when these came out, but I don't think I ever saw one, other than in pictures. If I remember correctly, for a short time my mom thought she would like to have one.
Growing up in the Middle East these cars were popular as cheaper alternatives to Mercedes. We lived in Kuwait and my dad had 2 of these. He also had a very nice merc300. To answer your marketing question the interior design really appealed to gulf buyers whose other motor vehicle options were GM or Mercedes.
Love your videos. I enjoy the details you discuss in them about the vehicles. A friends mom had a white with burgundy leather interior with those button tufted seats. Beautiful. I also remember my friend telling me about an unusual feature on the dash consisting of button adjustments to control fuel efficiency. It was really a nice car with tons of features.
Had a 1981 Toyota Corolla SR-5 2 dr manual trans, liked it, but after an achy long distance trip, traded it on a 1980 Thunderbird Town Landau. The dealer was thrilled to get a clean economy car in the midst of an oil price spike, but I never regretted the T Bird, smooth ride like a Lincoln, decent mileage. Toyotas are great, still have an old Tacoma, but nothing beats American steel (or plastic)
This was such a huge improvement over the first gen Cressida, which to me looked like something straight out of a Godzilla movie. Unfortunately, when these were new there was no way I could afford one.
My first car was a 1986 Corolla SR5 with two-tone red and black; alloy wheels to boot. Right after I purchased the Corolla, I saw the Cressida in a jade green with a tan interior and fell in love with the style. A few months later I headed down to the dealership and asked to test drive one. I suppose the salesman had nothing better to do than go for a ride with a seventeen-year-old. The car was like butter and I felt like eating lobster for the rest of the day on a beer budget. They stopped making the Cressida in the early 90s when I could actually afford one. Oh well, it's out of my system now but still one of the great 80s memories.
Owned an '83 and an '87, and this is an excellent vehicle when properly maintained. Same straight 6 from the Supra, nearly unlimited build potential. This is the pre-Lexus LS/ES. Handled phenomenally even in stock form. Great gas mileage, awesome factory stereo system.
Fourth generation 330 Nissan Cedric from 1975 to 1979 is probably the most American looking Japanise car what I have seen. Just look pictures of it from google and you will know what I mean. I love how it looks me being huge American car fan. Cressida was calso favorite of mine. Clearly aimed for typical US buyer.
We had this exact model in burgundy exterior and interior. The interior was all leather. It was a great car: a luxurious & smooth ride with enough power to have fun with. I loved the automatic track seat belts & the digital display both coming to life when you turned the key. But but but I was bemoaning that no US manufacturers had anything at the time as good. I drove it & depended on it but I never really fell in love with it because well, it was a symbol that we had regressed…
They were certainly pitching at BMW 5 series territory…. But lacked the snob factor that a BMW badge brought to the table. There’s a Japanese advert from the time comparing the 5 series to a Cressida and the executive who jumps into the Cressida is shocked at how good the car is.
Great car if you could deal with the motorized "Passive Restraint System" which took some getting used to as the mouse strap ran up the door frame. You still had to manually engage the lap belt. The velour seats would still be welcome in today's vehicles.
The Cressida could run forever with regular maintenance. The build and material quality was far better than the best Cadillac and Lincoln had to offer for much less money. The first gen Avalon was even more American focused with a front bench seat and column shifter.
@denniswilson8013 I’ve been to Mexico twice and most of the cars that I saw there were old cars probably over 10 years old and the same with police cars
Depends which country you were in. These littered the streets of South Africa in the 80s. And today , these cars are collected in South Africa and still cost a fortune.
My sister and her husband had an 85 Cressida that I loved. in 1988, I had a ‘84 “grad school Corolla” that was totaled while stopped in heavy traffic on the freeway when someone hit me from behind at nearly 50 MPH. I was hoping to buy a 1988 Cressida, but the dealership didn’t have any, however…they had both a 1988 Camry V6-XLE and a bunch of new to market 1989 Lexus ES 4 doors on their “sister Lexus Lot” one shop over which had just opened. I needed to get a car and drove both the 1989 Lexus ES and the fully loaded 1988 Camry V6-XLE and went with the Camry as it was nearly $3600 less and, at the time, looked better, I thought. Although it wasn’t a rear wheel drive, it was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned and several years later ended up giving it to my parents for their daily driver when their Cadillac was totaled in a winter accident. When they finally gave it to their mechanic’s son in the early 2000’s, it had 465,000 miles on it. It had a fair amount of rust on the rear fenders and some on the front, but it still drove fine and everything worked. It had only ever had regular oil changes and routine maintenance, new break pads every few years, new tires every few years and the muffler(s) /exhaust pipes where replaced twice. Even when they gave it away, the interior and trunk never had water leaking into ti, unlike most of the US made cars our family had when they got well over 100,000 miles on them and approached 8 or 9 years of use.
10:50 The "overdrive" button always struck me as a bit odd, especially considering that most, possibly all, automatic transmissions with overdrive had it as just another selection within the same assembly, with the early 4 speed models being different from the 3 speed predecessors only in their control mechanisms. The button seems like a throwback to the days when "overdrive" was often an add-on gearbox on the end of a 3 speed manual, with some overdrive units actually having an automatic kickdown for acceleration. Maybe automakers like Toyota added the button to call attention to this new feature while reminding drivers that if the new cars felt sluggish, they could easily get around this fuel saving feature with a touch of a button.
More likely that Toyota already had a shift quadrant with one too few positions to add the 4th gear, so resorted to the button to allow a driver to lockout the OD range.
I'd say the Chrysler New Yorker in the mid - late 70s, or the 1980s Chrysler Fifth Avenue had the plushest interior of them all. Or maybe the mid 70s Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman. Toyota, and the Japanese, were very good at copying what we did. They improved upon what we did in many cases - but they didn't invent very much - our car companies were, generally speaking, more innovative. They used to call the Japanese "the great imitators". We had neighbors who had an 84 Cressida - it wasnt as plush as this, but I remember it was a very nice car.
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I had a 1982 Cressida Wagon and a 1989 sedan. Both were fabulous cars. I really miss them.
I absolutely loved the Cressida of this era, as well as the ‘85-‘88 Maxima.
These videos are great, the comments are equally great !
The Cressida was awesome and loved those tufted seats!
We had a 90 Cressida, what a lovely, elegant automobile. The build quality was incredible, so smooth and quiet. Miss it a lot.
didn't keep it sorry.
My favorite car I have ever owned was my 1986 Cressida 5M-GE base. I loved the soft, plush seats and all of the amenities of a luxury sedan. It was still super sporty with that sleeper 4 door Supra capability.
I have never seen this interior before, which kind of surprises me. This is from an era when I did quite a lot of looking for and at just this sort of thing. Very cool. Now I want one.
My wife had an '85 Cressida Wagon. I had an '86 Cressida Sedan. Those were GREAT cars, if you had them serviced properly. In many ways, they were inspired by the early Toyota Crown and Supra, and inspired the Lexus line and the Avalon. Still, there were issues with the inline 6 engine such as leaky cam towers and leaky rear seals. But the ride was great, handling was solid, and the interior was awesome. Fuel economy was between 17.and 24 MPG, depending upon where you drove. I averaged 19 city, 23 highway. We traded them for more efficient vehicles that didn't ruin the driveway or garage from oil leaks. Now we drive Priuses. All the Toyotas we have had since the Cressidas have been leak-free.
Toyota was and is one of the best manufactured vehicle brands ever.
My sister and brother-in-law had an earlier Cresida. Amazing car, so much quieter and more economical than American cars at the time. That was when the Japanese began eating Detroit's lunch.
They still are in almost every segment aside from the truck segment
A Cressida was quiet compared anything powered by a GM 4 cylinder from that era, that is for sure😁
You'd all better hope you didn't ruin America's car industry by buying Japanese and European cars. If you don't want to live and drive American, why don't you move to Japan or Europe. And don't give me that Murica parody slang, either.
@@billyfoster3223 Their cars are cheaper here!
@@billyfoster3223 if American car makers actually cared if we bought them or not they wouldn’t make shitty products that forced us into the arms of Toyota and Volkswagen
No one combined technology, functionality, refinement, performance, style, robust durability and reliability like Toyota.
Then, and now.
I own a 1975 Toyota Crown, model Ms 85. I have owned this car for over forty years now, I bought it with only 46 thousand km on the clock. It has the 4M straight six cylinder engine, three spd auto transmission, rear wheel drive. The interior is similar to the Cressida but it does not have a lot of the electronic components. It does have electricity operated windows, remote door locks and boot lock. It will cruise at 140 plus kmh all day. It is an absolute pleasure to drive this car. I thought that you might be interested to hear about it as this was bought new in New Zealand and I am the second owner. It has only traveled 160 thousand km to date.
I owned a 1987 model for several years, purchased from a relative. For reasons I never knew, the engine had eaten its rings, and I had to have the motor re-built at the dealership for about $4,500 in mid- 1990's dollars. After that, it was a perfectly reliable car, and I loved the digital dash and features. After getting married and having 3 children in 5 years, I had to sell it as there was no way to handle 3 car seats and two adults in it. (I found a mint 1989 Olds Custom Cruiser, as a matter of fact.) I'd love to have that car today, and still look for a used one myself from time to time. Another great video!
Oh, be still my beating heart! We owned from new a 1986 Toyota Cressida wagon, another car I greatly regret ever selling. It was the ideal-sized harpmobile for my wife to transport her concert grand instrument to/from gigs in LA. You're correct to say that, mechanically, it was 4-door Supra. Loved the fact that it was rear wheel drive, and that 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive was really slick. I don't remember the 4-wheel independent suspension as being particularly "mushy," but then again one doesn't exactly want a track-ready ride when hauling around a harp which cost more than the car, plush though it was.
Bring back the Cressida wagon!!!!
I always liked the rectangular, conservative styling of the Cressida... and it is rear wheel drive!
Never had any idea what the interior looked like until now.
Additional quirk. Seen at 9:37, to the right of steering wheel, below the radio/climate control pod, there is a small black screen next to the center stack climate controls, above the radio..
That housed an early computer. It could be set to read the time, month & day, instant fuel economy average, fuel range, stop watch timer, engine oil life, and of all things, a birthday date reminder alarm.
Enjoyed the video! Thank you.
1985 Cressida. 69,000 miles. 💜🙂
Interesting! My dad had an ‘85 but the screen you speak of was only a clock. His car had the analog dash though, making me wonder if the other functions you mention were available if you upgraded to the digital dash shown in this part of the video.
A friend had one and it was smooth, quiet, and powerful by the standards of the day.
I worked at an airport parking lot in Boston from 1984 to 1986, as well as a "side gig" moving cars around for Avis during that time. Drove lots of Toyota Cressida's....and wow you are right! Their interiors were very close to many of the Big 3...and easily as comfy as any Cadillac. I always enjoyed driving them!
Park shuttle and fly?
I owned a 1987 Cressida. It was a beautiful car. Super high quality.
Thanks for this. I'm a big fan of 80's Toyotas. The Cressida is what the Cimarron should have been.
I used to work on those back in the day. They were pleasant to drive and the owners generally loved them. And once they reached a certain age, they were dirt cheap to buy and that Supra engine was fun to wind up...
I love it when you go outside your normal. Id love to see more station wagons and early 60's cars
4-door Supra! Thanks for your thorough videos!! 🙏
Cap. Thats like saying the 94-96 b bodies were a 4 door camaro, or a crown vic a 4 door mustang.
@@Henry_Jones1:32 guess you know better…
@@Henry_Jones Well, the Infiniti G35 was definitely a 4-door car using the 350Z platform. So I’m not surprised to hear this about the Cressida.
This video is dead-on! My mother bought an '85 loaded with leather interior. Cost $15,600 + TTL. A comparable Cadillac was thousands more and didn't have the same amenities (or reliability). Her car was trouble free for 17 years/190,000 miles until a run-away truck totaled the car. My only gripe were the automatic seatbelts, but it was a minor compromise for what was an excellent car with a classic boulevard ride.
awesome
The Toyota Crown had some crazy stuff in the late 70's early 80's too. 6 cylinder engine with all the bells and whistles. Cheers from Australia
These were amazing cars!
Thanks for this video. I loved these as a kid....very nice design with sharp edges.
The truly amazing thing is that even in a car this old today, most of the electronics will still work! The Japanese were masters of this stuff and I don't think we have still caught up. Between this and the Honda line, they really made our stuff look like junk, from function to execution.
Mainly because they use high quality stuff with wayyyyyyy overkill parts that just keeps em going and going unlike GM.
Talk about an Underdog! Thanks for talking about the Cressida. When I was a little kid, I was happy when my parents' friends came over for a visit. They had a Cressida and I would ask their permission to sit inside. I would pretend I was driving and I would admire the car. Good times.
Reminds me of the Nissan Maxima of the mid 80s.
I love these old rear wheel drive Toyotas. I'd like to have any rear wheel drive Toyota with a manual transmission. Especially one of these
Cressida - the Lexus before Lexus was Lexus! I use to love these. My buddies brother had a 83' then a 87'.
A cousin of mine back in the late 90s had a champagne-colored Cressida. I drove it once to high school and drove it with a buddy of mine on Military Drive in San Antonio when cruising was the thing!
These were my favorite family car as a kid.
My sister had the fancy wagon versions !! My sister originally had a Honda CRX my parents bought her in high school ( 1990) but my sister went to Australia after high school and when she returned she needed a car and my parents had a friend with an old Toyota Cressida wagon!!! It actually was a good car!!! My sister drove it for a couple years and I was old by this point but was a great old car!!
They used to call this car the 4 door Supra. They were also available with a 5 speed manual.
Same in the Australian market. It was the Japanese cars that spelt the end of the locally produced Ford, GM and Chrysler products. They just did what they promised on the box. And standard equipment was optional on everything else. To this day, Toyotas hold their resale value more strongly than just about anything else.
The Cressida has to have one of the best, if not the best, quality interior of a US Market Japanese car of this time period. I was always surprised that these cars were not popular here on the West Coast. The wagons in particular were very scarce when new. Nissan tried a similar idea with the original Maxima, but they just did not come off as well. Lastly, the ribbed, tufted velour -- ah, the 80s.
It wasn't just the quality of the cars that drove many Americans towards Toyota- these interiors certainly helped, feeling comfy despite being a smaller package. In terms of pricing, these Cressidas were relatively expensive- certainly on par with a top-model from a US premium division. I have an April '86 NADA used car price guide, which lists original sticker on an 85 Cressida as $15,690 (or about $45k today). Compare that to the new front drive '85 Electra Park Avenue, which has a new sticker price of $15,572. I think this honestly was there to compete as a very competent premium family car that offered good fuel economy. I'd like to think that cars such as the Cressida certainly contributed to the great cars Lexus would eventually produce a few years later, both in fit/finish but also in great adherence to good, high technology components that were durable and reliable.
I think it's a bit of a shame that comfy, cushy interior seating became such a characteristic of American vehicles, and as such, as everyone raced to emulate the Japanese and Germans, comfort went out the window. Today, safety regulations mandating seat and dash design have seemingly contributed to pretty much entirely eliminating the idea of having a super cushy interior. Same goes for the great visibility and airiness of these pre-rollover cabin designs. That said, those seat belts were HORRIBLE! I do not miss those! The crotch cooler though...those were nice.
Thanks for another interior video, Adam. I've been really enjoying these deep dives into automotive interiors. Some very neat ideas that were going around in this era, and often completely overlooked compared to exterior styling and mechanical engineering. I'd love it if you could get us some more interviews with interior designers, both old and even new, to get their thinking on how interiors have ended up the way they are.
My top considerations for a vehicle outside of price are the comfort/appearance of the interior, performance in winter and reliability. My current vehicle is a Ford Flex with AWD. After 160k miles I'm looking for an eventually replacement. I'm at a loss now....no other vehicle on the market is comparable.
I do miss the upright and airiness of the 1980 cars. Cars nowadays are so claustrophobic.
Most definitely! My Uncle's early 80's Cressida whet my Dad's appetite for Toyota. Dad and Mom later purchased both an Avalon and a Tundra crew cab, loved both vehicles😁
The first decent car I've owned was a 1989 audi coupe quattro and it wasn't cushy, but it was very comfortable and the handling and performance was better than any American product of the same year.
I remember these cars as a kid. I remember the style and luxury and especially the two-tone paint!
This has always been my dream car since I was a teen in school and a friends dad who was a DR had a new 1985 Crissida and his wife had a new Supra Still to this day I would LOVE to own a low mileage Crissida or 1986 Accord..loved the 80's luxury imports for the time! As a kid we had a 1980 Camaro and I remember while being a fast car with a 5.0 305 4bbl engine, it was still a POS with interior quality being horrible and the reliability sucked as well!
I had a friend who was a used car buyer for a Toyota dealership back in these days. He loved to use the 1985-1986 Cressida as his demo. I couldn’t really appreciate these back then but I was slowly being won over Asian vehicles. I have driven nothing else since 1987.
I remember these pretty well. They weren't all that big, I think a modern Camry is bigger than the Cressida was but these were really well made and nicely equipped. With that straight six from the Supra they were also deceptively quick.
As a kid I knew this was a good car, but I was 14-15 in 1986, and my tastes were totally different. As a 51yr old, this car draws me close for totally different reasons, including its solid build, great engine, smooth ride (Im assuming with a Cressida) and a higher level of quietness.
In 1986, at this level, the domestics offered nothing I was interested in, other than a Mercury Sable, Cougar, and Ford Thunderbird. I do like the Chevrolet Caprice, too.
I had one of these! Well, the next generation, to be precise, a 1990. The interiors were toned down slightly by then, but still very much that same traditional deluxe mood. I just remember it being one of the smoothest, most stately cars I had ever driven, and I still have fond memories of it. The accelerator pedal was calibrated in such a way that normal pressure would give very relaxed, buttery acceleration, so it could fool you into thinking it was slow. But if you toed it, the thing came alive and the inline-6 sounded like silk fabric being ripped. Super, super satisfying.
I think the muddled perception of this car's purpose had to do more with the weird stratification of the American market rather than any confusion of intent on Toyota's part. To me, this is the classic example of the Japanese or European "executive saloon." It's purposeful, conservative, luxurious but not ostentatious, mature but not elderly, quick but not sporty, and slightly coddling. It's car as balancing act, meant for people, not demographic segments.
I think Toyota's replacement for this, the Avalon, kind of spoiled the vibe by going in a more geriatric direction, with bulbous styling and a large-print interior, seemingly aimed at senior-level career men and retired women. Wasn't it even offered with a column shifter??
@@andrewg.spurgeon1736 I also remember a later C&D review of the Avalon in which they wrote "no other car says 'I'm old' so succinctly."
Yeah on the most base model Avalons, you could have them with a bench seat and the shifter was moved to the column
I remember this time and this car well. This is what changed the game for Toyota. For people who could actually afford luxury cars at the time, they were seen as being smaller, slower, less safe, less comfortable and with less sound deadening. They were overall way less luxurious.
Along came the Cressida and it could not be argued with by anyone.
It was very underrated and still is today. Without that car there wouldn't be a Lexus.
Thanks for showcasing the Cressida. I had a tan 96. I agree with your take on this car. I too would love to find one. I never see these on the street anymore. It was a great car.
I remember the Cressida and Maxima were competitors. But by 1985 the Maxima had gone front wheel drive. I considered the Cressida as the better of the two. My sister had a 1985 Cressida. It was nice.
Very enjoyable video on the Cressida Adam😁 I had an older Aunt and Uncle, as a kid, who had a Cressida. Their other car, at that time, was a '78 AMC Concord D/L, and they had traded in a '69 Rambler American on the Cressida. My Uncle liked luxury compacts that were comfortable but good on gas ⛽ I believe their Cressida was an '81. They still had this car in 1995😁
"Carnut" since'51 and my first car I paid for was a '68 Cougar "Dan Gurney Special" for $2828, the interior was unique as it had thick bucket seats and fake woven vinyl. Hope you run into one and show this one of a kind interior.
Cressidas were great cars. I owned an 82 and it was a pleasure to drive. I did not mind the auto seat belts.
Great video! While I was in high school in the early 1990's, a friend of mine got her mother's mid-1980s Cressida for her 16th bday. Hers had analog gauges, and button tufted leather seats. What really stood out to me was the programmable calendar thing on the dash.
I worked at the dealer in the 90's and had to work on them. People loved them, the engine and ride was super smooth, and they had decent power. A big plus was I made a lot of money buying and selling them as when someone wanted one they really wanted one.
Now the down side-The engine blew oil and cam seals all over the place and burned it with it's loose fitting pistons, the rear suspension ate the inside of the tires up quickly unless you went to extremes to add enough positive camber to prevent it (rear spring spacers were the best as they were too soft and rode about 1 1/2 inch too low. Plus, he AC sucked because it constantly leaked just about everywhere. I hated working on them but made lots of money off of them.
Those 2.8 6's were great engines . Especially with a 5- speed trans .
Nothing as smooth as an inline 6.
When I was a kid, I thought I'd definitely have a car with an interior like this (at 5:06). Now, I'm 52 & they don't make 'em anymore!!!
We had this car with a 5-speed manual. A couple things to note: 1. The “pod” to the right also had climate controls if I recall correctly. 2. The car could be optioned with an adjustable suspension.
Years ago, Toyota had a museum near LA which had some Cressidas of various decades which were all in showroom condition. I was surprised at the loud colors and "poofy" velour seats. Despite being Toyotas, you just don't see these cars on the road anymore although there may be some hiding in garages somewhere.
The poofy velour seats were an American thing.
The South Africa models had full leather….and no buttoned cushions .
Velour was an option , but again, no poofy , cushions.
Very conservative ….😀
Other than the GM 6th Gen (86-91) lesabre and it’s stable mates were very reliable, great looking and fuel efficient, of which I bought a number of examples for my wife to drive, I personally drove Datsuns and Toyotas and still do to this day.
I remember those cars! They did look nice. Interiors were plushy 😂. We had a 1985 Honda Accord SEi...and it was loaded. Leather, sunroof & 5-speed! Great car! Mechanically it lasted forever. 😃✌🏼
I have a 1988 Mazda 929. Similar approach to the Cressida. 929 has a3.0l v6, rear wheel drive, leather, heated power mirrors, really luxurious for the time.
My dad has 85 Cressida with white exterior and red interior and 5 speed manual, but because it's from Arabia it doesn't have those bumbers and automatic seatbelts, and the seat patterns are little bit different. But the car and the seats are still very soft and comfy.
Were the foreign market cressida also 6 cylinder
@@CRAPO2011 Yes, it originally had the 5M-E engine (6 cylinder), but some owner before us change it to the 5M-GE engine (also 6 cylinder)
Also I didn't mention in the original comment that our Cressida is hardtop, so it has frameless window, and it has different hood ornament than shown in the video.
@@tomimaatsola7402 ahh I like those odd ball jdm style hardtops Nissan had the maxima,bluebird hardtop also. We only had the one version in usa
@@CRAPO2011 Oh yea, they are great and beautiful in my opinion too, it's bummer that the body style wasn't used more widely.
The ribbed velour fabric looks much like what was used in European Mercedes of the era, but was rarely seen in Mercedes sold in the US.
these cressidas birthed my love for eurasian sedans
i sold my 2011 chevy malibu last year because i was tired of it
and ended up with an 04 Avalon and $6000 in my pocket
no regrets
ive always loved good factory stereos
i remember being blown away by the Cressidas stereo controls the first time i looked
inside through the drivers side window of a Cressida in a parking lot somewhere
it reminded me of nice piece of Japanese home stereo equipment
Adam, Now you have had one Honda and one Toyota on the channel. The Cressida and in particular, the Cressida wagon, were very understated. Does anyone remember Michael Palin setting off across Saudi Arabia in "Around The World in 80 Days" in a white Cressida sedan with a manual? 🤔
These were pretty popular in Australia too. I had several friends and neighbours who owned them. The cam covers were a common sore point - every couple of years they needed new gaskets. They fixed this with the ‘88-89 update when the 3L engine was introduced here. IMO that “rounded corners” update softened it too much, and the leather interior was not as nice as the velour in the “square box” ones.
Our local competitors - Ford & GM Holden had already woken up, and from the early 80s the top line Commodore SLE and later Calais models had very plush interiors, but Ford went all out with acres of velour in the 84-88 XF Fairmont Ghia, which also had the best digital cluster of the era (full instruments too) as well as Japanese style switch pods and electric moving vents, thanks to their Mazda partnership. They are highly sought after today too.
The local advertising called it a “cress seed ahh”
The earlier 80s Cressidas sold here had some very basic trim specs available (especially in the wagon) but you could clearly see Toyota’s direction towards Lexus as these were slowly dropped through the 80s, leaving only the highest spec trims available, ready to roll into the LS400 & ES300 that were also quite popular here too. Several of those Cressidas I knew as a teenager were replaced in the 90s by those 2 Lexus models.
I drove a 1980 Cressida for a few in-town miles, very comfortable for a car which was compact by Domestic standards.
Early RWD Maxima's were similarly brougham-y. I remember my dad had a loaner (used car) while his Ranger was getting serviced. It was blue, with blue velour interior, an also had the button-tufted look. It had a moonroof, awesome stereo, and seemingly dozens and dozens of buttons laid out on the dash. It might have had a digital dash, not sure.
Yes, the first generation Maxima was of the same ilk - doing the awful button tuft upholstery.
Thankfully both Toyota & Nissan stopped that nonsense.
Yup. My father had a 87' se, but that had the checker pattern seats, not the tufted button (but I know what you speak of)
Your opinion about my car makes me very happy. I've also got a 93 LS400 which unfortunately i need to sell and honestly, i was so disappointed when i bought the Lexus. The Cressida had a much better looking interior and equipment, even a range computer that even reminded you of birthdays, or the technics radio with a graphic 12 lever equalizer that you could control from the gauge cluster. Can't wait to get it from the paint shop. It's black and green
One of my best friends got a used 85 Cressida after his 77 240 Z just about folded in half from excessive rust. He liked it and said in a straight line it was faster than his old Z car.
At that time, I was not able to afford a Cressida as I was very young, I made the mistake of owning Buicks, Mercury’s, fords & Chevy’s, all of which broke down continually. Many years later, I discovered Toyota and Lexus, and have never ever had a reliability issue.
I have always liked the Cressida, even the earlier eighties pre-facelift version of this car; when I saw the ‘65 facelift the car just got even better; it had the impression of being a family car but somewhat better than average.
Hi Adam, I love your channel and enjoy most every video you make. I must make a correction to your information. I have a 1987 MX73 and it has the hood ornament. You said it was 1986 only. Great video though! Thanks!
TOYOTA HAS ALWAYS BEEN GREAT!
Yep Adam, very popular in OZ and a Gr8 Family Sedan that was Very Quiet and Drove like a Dream.....Fuel Efficient, as well, compared to a lot of the U.S. & Australian Cars. Cheers fm Damo😊🙌
I’m 32 today and have owned Toyotas for 10 years but I wish I could have afforded one of these or a Supra in its appropriate day.
Great video! I like seeing videos about non American cars. Keep the majority of the videos american but through in some foreign cars every once in a while.
The Maxima (4DSC) from that era was pretty sweet, too.
I remember when these came out, but I don't think I ever saw one, other than in pictures. If I remember correctly, for a short time my mom thought she would like to have one.
Growing up in the Middle East these cars were popular as cheaper alternatives to Mercedes. We lived in Kuwait and my dad had 2 of these. He also had a very nice merc300. To answer your marketing question the interior design really appealed to gulf buyers whose other motor vehicle options were GM or Mercedes.
Love your videos. I enjoy the details you discuss in them about the vehicles. A friends mom had a white with burgundy leather interior with those button tufted seats. Beautiful. I also remember my friend telling me about an unusual feature on the dash consisting of button adjustments to control fuel efficiency. It was really a nice car with tons of features.
Had a 1981 Toyota Corolla SR-5 2 dr manual trans, liked it, but after an achy long distance trip, traded it on a 1980 Thunderbird Town Landau. The dealer was thrilled to get a clean economy car in the midst of an oil price spike, but I never regretted the T Bird, smooth ride like a Lincoln, decent mileage. Toyotas are great, still have an old Tacoma, but nothing beats American steel (or plastic)
The smoothness of the M series inline 6's of the 1970's and 1980's Toyotas was astonishing. Very, very close to zero vibration.
The Japanese vehicles of this period had excellent quality compared too the North American unfortunately 😮
This was such a huge improvement over the first gen Cressida, which to me looked like something straight out of a Godzilla movie. Unfortunately, when these were new there was no way I could afford one.
My first car was a 1986 Corolla SR5 with two-tone red and black; alloy wheels to boot. Right after I purchased the Corolla, I saw the Cressida in a jade green with a tan interior and fell in love with the style. A few months later I headed down to the dealership and asked to test drive one. I suppose the salesman had nothing better to do than go for a ride with a seventeen-year-old. The car was like butter and I felt like eating lobster for the rest of the day on a beer budget. They stopped making the Cressida in the early 90s when I could actually afford one. Oh well, it's out of my system now but still one of the great 80s memories.
Owned an '83 and an '87, and this is an excellent vehicle when properly maintained. Same straight 6 from the Supra, nearly unlimited build potential. This is the pre-Lexus LS/ES. Handled phenomenally even in stock form. Great gas mileage, awesome factory stereo system.
Fourth generation 330 Nissan Cedric from 1975 to 1979 is probably the most American looking Japanise car what I have seen. Just look pictures of it from google and you will know what I mean. I love how it looks me being huge American car fan. Cressida was calso favorite of mine. Clearly aimed for typical US buyer.
“The PRNDL indicator”. That’s how Lisa Douglas from Green Acres learned how to drive.
We had this exact model in burgundy exterior and interior. The interior was all leather. It was a great car: a luxurious & smooth ride with enough power to have fun with. I loved the automatic track seat belts & the digital display both coming to life when you turned the key. But but but I was bemoaning that no US manufacturers had anything at the time as good. I drove it & depended on it but I never really fell in love with it because well, it was a symbol that we had regressed…
Thanks for the video. I own a time-capsule '85 Cressida myself.
The interior is an Oldsmobile 98, the exterior and motor is a BMW 528 from that time period
They were certainly pitching at BMW 5 series territory….
But lacked the snob factor that a BMW badge brought to the table.
There’s a Japanese advert from the time comparing the 5 series to a Cressida and the executive who jumps into the Cressida is shocked at how good the car is.
Great car if you could deal with the motorized "Passive Restraint System" which took some getting used to as the mouse strap ran up the door frame. You still had to manually engage the lap belt. The velour seats would still be welcome in today's vehicles.
I would love to have one of these earlier Toyota Cressida sedans and wagons. They would make excellent first cars right now. Especially the wagons.
The Cressida could run forever with regular maintenance. The build and material quality was far better than the best Cadillac and Lincoln had to offer for much less money. The first gen Avalon was even more American focused with a front bench seat and column shifter.
I hear they’re Cuban cars.
@denniswilson8013 I’ve been to Mexico twice and most of the cars that I saw there were old cars probably over 10 years old and the same with police cars
Cressidas were very rare even when new.
Depends which country you were in.
These littered the streets of South Africa in the 80s.
And today , these cars are collected in South Africa and still cost a fortune.
I love to see you review Japanese cars! I’m 61 and the only cars I’ve ever owned were Nissans and Hondas.
I wish they still made seats like this instead of the ubiquitos leather which is the only option in most upscale cars today.
I'd love to hear your opinions on the early Lexus cars.
My sister and her husband had an 85 Cressida that I loved. in 1988, I had a ‘84 “grad school Corolla” that was totaled while stopped in heavy traffic on the freeway when someone hit me from behind at nearly 50 MPH. I was hoping to buy a 1988 Cressida, but the dealership didn’t have any, however…they had both a 1988 Camry V6-XLE and a bunch of new to market 1989 Lexus ES 4 doors on their “sister Lexus Lot” one shop over which had just opened. I needed to get a car and drove both the 1989 Lexus ES and the fully loaded 1988 Camry V6-XLE and went with the Camry as it was nearly $3600 less and, at the time, looked better, I thought. Although it wasn’t a rear wheel drive, it was one of the best cars I’ve ever owned and several years later ended up giving it to my parents for their daily driver when their Cadillac was totaled in a winter accident. When they finally gave it to their mechanic’s son in the early 2000’s, it had 465,000 miles on it. It had a fair amount of rust on the rear fenders and some on the front, but it still drove fine and everything worked. It had only ever had regular oil changes and routine maintenance, new break pads every few years, new tires every few years and the muffler(s) /exhaust pipes where replaced twice. Even when they gave it away, the interior and trunk never had water leaking into ti, unlike most of the US made cars our family had when they got well over 100,000 miles on them and approached 8 or 9 years of use.
10:50 The "overdrive" button always struck me as a bit odd, especially considering that most, possibly all, automatic transmissions with overdrive had it as just another selection within the same assembly, with the early 4 speed models being different from the 3 speed predecessors only in their control mechanisms. The button seems like a throwback to the days when "overdrive" was often an add-on gearbox on the end of a 3 speed manual, with some overdrive units actually having an automatic kickdown for acceleration. Maybe automakers like Toyota added the button to call attention to this new feature while reminding drivers that if the new cars felt sluggish, they could easily get around this fuel saving feature with a touch of a button.
More likely that Toyota already had a shift quadrant with one too few positions to add the 4th gear, so resorted to the button to allow a driver to lockout the OD range.
I'd say the Chrysler New Yorker in the mid - late 70s, or the 1980s Chrysler Fifth Avenue had the plushest interior of them all. Or maybe the mid 70s Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman. Toyota, and the Japanese, were very good at copying what we did. They improved upon what we did in many cases - but they didn't invent very much - our car companies were, generally speaking, more innovative. They used to call the Japanese "the great imitators". We had neighbors who had an 84 Cressida - it wasnt as plush as this, but I remember it was a very nice car.